It is supplemental heat for one area of the house so they can go without it but to have spent the money for the heating fireplace and its too expensive to use that is crazy.

Benefits Include:Additional Cashflow, Hedge against Vacancy Expenses, Additional Cashflow to Pay off Rentals Faster, Additional Cashflow to supplement retirement income.  

So maybe this is supplement to that, or in a unheated area, like an addition. 

It is fine for a hobby landlord to supplement a tenants rent but not if you are operating as a business.

I've been reading lots of articles and books about multifamily investing and it seems like these will be a great supplement to what I've read. 

Instead, use it to supplement your other marketing efforts... in other words, use zillow as a way to reach sellers, but also scrap craigslist for sellers, send direct mail to absentee/high-equity owners, etc.    

I will do some of that but after listening to some BP podcasts and doing some general Googling I feel that I can supplement my income nicely in the flip or rental game.

The mortgage payment, taxes, insurance, etc. would probably run me about $1,100-$1,250.Given my personal budget allows for $1,500/month in savings, anyway (plus a discretionary allowance I could tap into if needed), I feel like I could handle vacant months without feeling the squeeze.I would definitely use a property management service — the combination of my inexperience and my long work hours (often 70-90/week) means I am simply not the best candidate to manage property on a daily basis.I'm not looking for supplemental income out of this.

Whereas PITI would be $3800 and I would be able to use the tax advantage of ~1000/month to help supplement that.

I know this is a very broad description but I wanted to make this initial post to get a reality check, encouragement, hear from others who have done the same and been able to supplement their long term financial health and freedom etc.